Collie knew exactly what it was that she was doing.

She absolutely wanted to play that game of danger and teases, to pit fire against ice. Kai may be a cold and ruthless man, but Colette was feisty and unforgiving in ways that were unbelievable.

Those fingers trailing along the silky skin of her throat had her attention, drawing in that excitement as he tested her stability and self control. Her own restraint was quickly dwindling, each touch making her skin crawl with pleasant sensations she wasn't sure she'd ever felt before. In truth, he had her right where he needed her. She was so willing to do whatever it took to have him.

Damn you, Kai Vitelli.

"Indeed. But what's life without a little recklessness?" She purred, relishing the smirk that crept back across his face. So dangerous. So handsome. So lethal. It was everything that Collie craved and adored without even realizing her own feelings. The warmth between them called to her, begging her to close the distance and to press herself against the man no one dared to touch. But she didn't. She showed that much control, no matter how little it was.

Colette leaned her face into the touch he made at her jaw, her gaze adoring and predatory all at once as she took heed to his words. She straightened up as he stepped back, her hand resting against her hip as she allowed a grin to cross her face once more. She let him go without saying another word, the cool silkiness of his tone biting into her skin and igniting new things in her body.

"Such a dangerously desirable warning.. May God have mercy on us both." The words were murmured, her bright eyes watching the other depart until she finally snapped out of her desire filled daze. Never before had she wanted to lose a bet, but she knew she couldn't just throw in the towel on this one. After all, Kai had already tortured her in the best and worst way possible.

A second passed and Collie finally turned on her heels, facing the men who'd been uncomfortable and on edge during that entire meeting. She closed the distance, her grin turning wolfish once more. "I have work to do, boys. I'm headed for daddy's nightclub. Go home or at least go somewhere you won't bother me. I've got a point to prove," she told them, her hands clapping together once excitedly. With only a couple of nods and uncertain looks, the men parted and Colette strolled right back out of that warehouse and to her car.

---

Just as she wanted, Colette found herself at Luxe, her father's popular and upscale nightclub. The people were expensive, unsuspecting, and all too susceptible to a young and pretty woman. Within moments of sitting down at the bar, she ordered a drink and struck up a conversation with some gentleman wearing an expensive suit and too much cologne. Definitely not her type, but he was the type she'd be seeking out that night. She could tell just by looking at him he had money burning a hole in his pockets.

Colette hadn't even suspected that Kai would end up at Luxe that night. She'd expected it to be business as usual, where she would sink her claws into some poor fool before dragging the deal back to her new found partner.

Like that fool infront of her, for example. He was ready to throw in the towel and to invest his money into the luxurious art scheme that Colette had crafted up to look like a safe, reputable art gallery. It was, of course, but it was so much more than that at the same time. But, just as she was getting ready to get into the deep business side of things, up waltzed her beloved Kai, once more bearing danger and eluding darkness.

Truthfully, she was thankful to be saved from those grimey fingers that had stretched out towards her. She would have dealt with the touch until it made her uncomfortable, to which then he would have been told to stop rather than be met with the knife sheathed safely at her thigh. But, there wouldn't be that sort of excitement that night. Instead, her excitement would come in the form of the man she'd decided to challenge and play games with.

Collie watched the exchange, lifting her expresso martini to her lips with an amused gleam in her eyes. The bastard never stood a chance once Kai had arrived. She chuckled softly at his statement, her glass returning to its place on the counter. "Of course I do. Though that was business," she replied, a smirk playing at her lips. He likely knew that, but she was much more interested in him being there than conducting that sort of business that night.

His compliment came as a pleasant surprise, her skin prickling with goosebumps as she shifted her position smoothly, her gaze raking over him slowly in return. Everything he did was so purposeful. She loved it. "Thank you, Kai. I could say the same for you," she returned, her soft voice lowering ever so slightly as to tell it wasn't just a pleasantry. She meant it. He looked delectable.

His warmth enveloped her, once more making her resist the urge to reach out and completely close that distance. He made her crazy, that much she was sure of.

His question made her hum, her head tilting slightly to the right as she pretended to consider what he asked. "If I'm to be honest, Kai.." she began, that sweet purr returning as she spoke his name, "I knew you were more than just a pawn to be toyed with moment you dared to return the energy I offered."

Her tone was gentle, delicate, but oh so dangerous at the same time. She leaned forward slightly, letting that bit of intimacy slip around them for a moment. "Now, you show up here and run off the business I sought to gain you, and I know I don't want to just play. I rather enjoy the dangerously little things like this... Don't you?" Her voice trailed off as she straightening in her seat, returning some distance between them.

Colette knew she couldn't play him like she'd first intended, but that wasn't exactly the goal anymore either. She wanted much more than to just play.

Kai’s smirk deepened, his dark eyes flickering with something sharp—something knowing. She wasn’t just playing anymore.

Good.

He dragged his gaze over her slowly, savoring the way her words curled around his name, how she leaned in just enough to tease before pulling back like she wasn’t fully inviting the fire she was so clearly drawn to. But he knew better.

Leaning in, he let his hand trace the stem of her martini glass, his fingers barely brushing hers in the process. A whisper of contact, deliberate and slow, just enough to spark that charge between them again.

“Oh, I enjoy plenty of dangerous little things, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice dropping into that smooth, velvety register that had been the undoing of many before her. But she wasn’t just anyone, was she?

His gaze burned into hers, unwavering, as he let the weight of his presence settle over her like a promise.

“You see,” he continued, tilting his head slightly, “I didn’t run off your business, Colette. I simply replaced it with something much more… enticing.”

His fingers trailed up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his knuckles grazing the delicate skin of her jaw before he let his touch linger just a second too long. “A trade, if you will.”

He pulled back just enough to watch her reaction, his smirk laced with something darker, something laced in temptation.

“And if you think I’m going to make this easy for you… you don’t know me nearly as well as you think.”

The way he leaned in further was exactly what she had wanted. His fingers ghosting across hers had her slender fingers stretching faintly towards his own, silently begging for a fraction more of a touch than what he'd given her. Both of them still played, only in a way much more dangerous than before.

The resonance of his voice captured her like the thickest of webs, her body nearly shuddering at the velvety tone that wrapped around her and pulled her in close. But she didn't let it show. She couldn't let Kai know exactly what it was he did to her, no matter how bad she wanted him to. The effect he had over her was something so strong and startling that Colette could barely contain herself.

Her gaze never left his, the twin flames between their eyes never wavering. Her gaze still taunted and challenged, daring him to make his next move with the utmost confidence and determination. Determination for what? She wasn't sure, but she knew that she wanted whatever it was.

Perhaps it was just his touch that she craved, the feeling of his gentle yet firm fingers touching her, moving her hair in a delicate motion before brushing her heated skin. A flush of red streaked up her neck, leaving a traitorous telltale sign of what each fleeting touch was doing to her, even as he pulled back.

"Enticing you are, darling, and I'm quite tempted to accept this little trade you're offering me," she told him, bitting down on her lower lip to try and ground herself. She had work to do. She couldn't just give herself over to him that night, no matter how lovely it sounded. Three in two nights was doable, but three in one with a little devil on her shoulder? Absolutely not.

"As much as I'd enjoy to just give myself over to you, I'm afraid that I'm not the type of woman to make it easy for you to claim your prize in the instance that I fail." She rose her glass back to her lips, finishing the martini without breaking eye contact. She sat the glass back down, her tongue trailing her lower lip to collect any liquid that had escaped.

"I suppose that brings me to my next question," she said as she rose to her feet, daring to lean in close enough that their bodies brushed. "What are you going to do to keep me here and not out there?"

Kai’s heart hammered in his chest, but it wasn’t from the tension in the room or the familiar threat of losing control. No, it was because of her. Colette. She was standing so close, just a whisper away from him, her body nearly pressing into his, and every inch of him screamed to pull her in, to end this dangerous game they’d been playing for so long.

Her words, that low, teasing dare, lit something inside of him. He could feel the heat radiating off of her, the way her pulse quickened, and how her body subtly swayed toward him, inching ever so closer. The way she held herself back, just out of reach, knowing it drove him mad. It was like a challenge he couldn’t refuse, no matter how hard he tried to stay in control.

The whisper of her breath against his neck nearly unraveled him. His fingers itched to touch her, to claim her, but he forced himself to wait. Kai knew how to play the game, but with her, it was different. She wasn’t like the others. Colette knew how to make him crave her touch, and every word she spoke only made him burn hotter, hungrier for more.

“God, you’re relentless, aren’t you?” Kai’s voice was strained, barely keeping his composure. His eyes darkened as they traced the curve of her jaw, the way her lips parted ever so slightly, the way she fought to maintain some sense of control—like she could somehow resist him. “You’re playing with fire, sweetheart, and sooner or later, you’re going to get burned.”

He could see the way she bit down on her lip, that subtle little move that made his breath hitch. It wasn’t just a movement, it was an invitation. He could practically feel her struggle, could see how badly she wanted him to make the next move. He reached out, his fingertips barely grazing her skin, just enough to ignite the fire that had been smoldering between them for too long. The way her body reacted—shuddering, leaning in—told him everything he needed to know. She was right there, so close, and yet still, she held back.

“You’re not the type of woman to make it easy for me,” he murmured, voice thick with desire. His fingers trailed down her arm, brushing against the soft fabric of her dress, feeling the heat of her skin beneath it. “But damn, I love the challenge.”

He stepped forward, his chest nearly brushing hers, his breath warm against her ear. His voice dropped lower, more dangerous now, more like a promise. “You think you’re in control, Colette? You think you can push me away like this?” His hand slid around her waist, pulling her against him with a possessive grip. “I’ll make sure you don’t get the chance to walk away.”

His lips hovered over hers, so close but not quite touching. He could feel her breath catch, feel the trembling anticipation in the air. Every part of him wanted to close that last gap, to take what he’d been wanting for so long. But he didn’t. He kept her there, right on the edge, just as she liked it, just as he needed it.

“You think you can resist me?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lingering on her heated skin. “What are you going to do, Colette? Are you going to give in? Or are you going to keep playing this little game with me?”

His lips brushed against her ear, the touch so light, so tantalizing, but just enough to send a shiver down her spine. “I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you. So, make your move, sweetheart. I’m waiting.”

The words hung in the air between them, thick with unspoken promises and dangerous intent. There was no turning back now.

Kai smirked into the kiss, his hand snaking to her hip in an inviting way. He kissed her back deeper, her breath filling his mouth as a warmth spread across his chest.

Bingo.

She wasn't going anywhere tonight without him.

He broke the kiss after a few moments. "Where do you want this to go?" He asked, surprising himself at the vulnerbility and triumph in his voice. Her hip was warm beneath his large hands and he held her a bit closer just to drive her crazy. "You taste so good...." He teased after a moment, wanting a reaction from her that would give him the green light.

Colette nearly buckled with how he deepened the kiss, her chest threatening to burst if her heart beat any harder. It was exactly what she'd imagined and more. He was intoxicating in ways she never could have fathomed, but now she had gotten a taste of that mysterious man and she wanted more. So much more.

Patience, she told herself. If she truly had him where she wanted him, then they'd have all the time in the world to explore and tease to their heart's content. Still, the tone of his question surprised her, her slender fingers playing with the silky strands of his hair as she gazed up at him with desire filled eyes. His touch still drove her wild, the warmth of his hand further heating her skin. He knew exactly what he was doing to her and she absolutely loved it.

His tease made her grin and her face flush with a pretty pink shade. Her body shuddered delightfully beneath his grasp and it was obvious that she felt the same way. He'd tasted like the expensive whiskey he'd been drinking, along with other notes that were exclusively him. "You drive me insane, you know that?" She smirked, her hand trailing from his hair to trace the strong line of his jaw. "I want for this to go wherever it needs to. We have all the time in the world, so who says we have to rush?" She hummed, tracing her tongue over her bottom lip as she paused for a moment. "Unless I'm just that irresistible to you?" She purred, her voice teasing as that playful grin returned.

"What would you do if I said you are?" He murmured huskily, making his mind whirl out of it;'s usual organized self. His fingertips pressed a bit harder into her hips as he smirked and brought their lips back together. His hand on her hip snaked around her waist and pulled her to sit on his lap. "Should we take this elsewhere, sweetheart?" He asked her softly, his lips brushing hers and his tongue tracing her upper lip. "Cause I can think of a perfect place for us..."